Rose of the Shires Ultra
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
Rose of the Shires Ultra
The Rose of the Shires Ultra is a 54 mile circular ultramarathon that starts and finishes at Brixworth Country Park in Northamptonshire. The route uses footpaths, country trails, roads and canal towpath and passes through Salcey Forest, the Grand Union Canal and 21 villages and towns.
The course surface totals approximately 36.4 miles of cross country trails, 15.6 miles of road and 1.8 miles of canal towpath. Total elevation change is about 706 m of ascent and 706 m of descent. The route follows parts of the Nene Way, the Midshires Way and the Northampton Round and is covered by OS Maps 207, 223 and 224.
There are six staffed checkpoints spaced about six to eight miles apart. Each checkpoint provides water and snacks and is run by local running clubs. The event is fully tracked using supplied GPS trackers and offers voice navigation resources for competitors.
Race options include the full 54 mile event, the Rosebud Marathon covering the final 26 miles, and relay teams. Relay legs are defined and exchanged using the tracker as the team baton. Mandatory kit is required and random kit checks take place before the event. The minimum age for competitors is 18 years. Parking is available at Brixworth Country Park and nearby Northampton offers accommodation for overnight stays. The event is registered as a UTMB Index race in the 100K category. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
